SHILLONG: The government has identified as many as 500 vulnerable trees in the city that would be felled as a precautionary measure.
Deputy chief minister and in-charge of revenue and disaster management department RC Laloo made the statement after a review meeting with all the important heads of the department here on Wednesday to take stock of the situation arising out of the torrential downpour in almost all parts of the state.
Laloo said apart from the 500 trees identified for felling, residents here have informed the government of about 50 weak trees in different localities that need to be cut immediately.
However, the forest department would also have to plant many more trees in the city since a huge number of trees would be cut down.
Laloo said, according to the rules, as many as 6000 trees would have to be planted if 600 trees were cut and the process was on to identify the places where the trees could be planted.
“I have asked all the departments to prepare their contingency plans and pass it on to the deputy commissioners. Besides, the DCs will be asked to take a review of the situation frequently,” Laloo told mediapersons after the meeting.
Stating that the government had asked all the departments to remain alert, he however added that the forest department did not have any compensation scheme but three people who were killed recently will be provided ex gratia through state disaster funds.
“We are working on the principle of hope for the best, prepare for the worst and the worst would never come,” Laloo added.
Asked about the recent incident where the uprooting of the massive tree from Raj Bhavan led to the death of three people, Laloo said even before the incident, the forest department in May this year had reviewed the matter of weak trees in the city.
According to Laloo, an exercise was conducted and some trees were identified and cut down in Raj Bhavan earlier.
However, the deputy chief minister pointed out that the particular tree which uprooted last Saturday was still strong but did not have roots down below “It only had fibre roots as per the forest department. Since the branches of the tree were huge, it became heavy and collapsed,” he said.
In the review meeting, PW Ingty, the additional chief secretary, in-charge, revenue & disaster management department, also briefed on the damages caused to household properties, horticulture and agriculture crops, public and private assets.
